Process and apparatus for manufacturing articles from paper pulp



A. V. SIMS. PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ARTICLES FROM PAPER PULP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I0. 1911.

1,324,935. Pafented Dec. 16,1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

A I anuemfoz A %1 34 61mm,

A. V. SIMS.

PROCESS AND. APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ARTICLES FROM PAPER PULP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. l l 9 l I- Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

2 SH EETSSHEET 2.

ooooo -00... .fowowomomowow.

ALFRED V. SIMS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ARTICLES FROM PAPER-PULP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

Application filed March 10, 1917. Serial No. 153,804.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, ALFRED V. SIMs, a c1t1zen of the United States, residing at New York, county of New York, and State My invention relates to the manufacture I of articles from wood pulp, paper stock, and similar fibrous materials, herein referred to as paper pulp,held-insuspension in a liquid; and the object thereof is to provide an improved method or process whereby hollow articlessuch, for example, as bottles, jars, cases, boxes and similar con tainers, tubes and like structures, and, in fact, analogous devices of any'form and for any purpose may be more readily, cheaply and effectively made from fibrous material held in suspension in a liquid than has heretofore been the case. My invention, in ad'- dition, includes suitable apparatus to be hereinafter described for carrying out and performing the process above referred to; 1 with the end in viewcof producing articles of the general type or class above referred to more effectively, and of better quality, than has heretofore commonly been the casein the manufacture of similar articles from analogous materials.

.vention in v1ew, my invention consists in thereupon;

the improved method or process of manufacturing articles from fibrous material suspended m a liquid hereinafter explained at length, in the improved apparatus for carrying out the said process illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part ofthis specification and hereinafter described, and in such variations and modifications of the process and apparatus disclosed as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing a foraminous former, together with a support therefor, in side elevation, and upon which the pulp for forming the article to be made is deposited in performing my process, I

Fig. 2 is a view showing the former in section, with a layer of paper pulp from which the article is to be made deposited Fi 3 1s a view showing the former with the layer of pulp deposited thereupon as placed Within a suitable mold preparatory to removing the layer of pulp therefromand transferring it to the mold;

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the former within the mold as in Fig. 3, and illustrating the irregular corrugated or wrinkled configuration of the wall of the former;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the layer of pulp material as removed from the former, and in contact with the inner surface of the mold;

Fig. 61s a sectional View similar to Fig. 3, and showing means for applying pressure to the layer of pulp material removed from the former and while it remains within the mold, to thereby compact the material from which the article being produced is made;

Fig. 7 is a view showing a section upon a vertical central plane of the finished article produced in performing my process, when a former and mold of the particular form, shape and outline illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, is employed;

Fig. 8 is a view showing the finished article in plan.

Fig. 9 is a view, mainly in side elevation, illustrating in a conventional manner an apparatus whereby my improved process may be carried out;

Fig. 10 is a v1ew showing the mold and parts cooperating therewith in elevation,

and as seen from a position to the left of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary View showing a section upon a horizontal plane indicated by the line 1111, Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view showing a section upon a horizontal planeindicated .bydthe line 12-12, Fig. ,9, looking down; an

Fig. 13 is a plan view illustrating an apparatus for simultaneously producing a plurality of articles in accordance with my process:

In explaining my improved process with the aid of the accompanying drawings I have assumed that the article to be roduced is a receptacle of semi-ellipsoidal form, although my invention is equally applicable to the production of articles of any form, shape, or outline, whatever, as above explained; and it will be appreciated that:

when articles of a form other than the par ticular form illustrated are to be made the shape of the former, the configuration of the mold, and. the form and structural details shown in Figs. 4 and 5, so that the former with the layer of pulp material resting thereupon, and from which the article to be produced is made, may be inserted into a mold without contacting with the wall thereof; and so that the total superficial area of the layer of pulp upon the former will be approximately equal to the area of the inner surface of the mold, in order that the material constituting the said layer will not be stretched and perhaps ruptured in the act of disengaging the said layer from the former,- transferring the said layer to the mold, and pressing it into intimate contact with the mold in performing my process, all

'as will hereinafter appear.

The former 15 is secured to a suitable support 16, which support, in the conventional form of apparatus illustrated in Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive, is provided with an-arm 17, which arm is pivotally connected at 18 with a vertically movable oscillating lever 19; Said lever being secured to a shaft 20 supported in slides 21 (see Fig. 12) movable vertically in a guide 22'; the shaft aforesaid being operable by means of a handle 23 secured thereto, and the entire mechanism here referred to being counterbalanced by means of a weight 24; whereby, the parts may be made to assume the several positions shown in full and in dotted lines in Fig. 9, all as will'be understood; v

In performing the process included in my invention by means of the apparatus illustrated, the former 15 is firstsuhmerged in a tank or equivalent receptacle'25',"see Fig. 9, containing paper pulp or equivalent "material held in liquid suspension; and a communication is established betweenthe interior of the former and a pump or equivalent vacuum producingdevice through a suitable conduit 26 connected with the support 16, and provided with a suitable valve,

not shown, for controlling the communication between the pump and interior of the former. This results in a reduction of pressure within the former, and ma flow of liquid from the tank 25 thereinto. The fibrous material or pulp held'in suspension in the liquid, however, is prevented from entering the foraminous former, and is deposited upon the exterior thereof as a layer of pulp material of substantially uniform thickness, and of a form corresponding with the shape or outline of the former, as will be appreciated. The connection between the pump and interior of the former will be maintained until a layer of pulp of sufficient thickness to form the finished article has been secured, which thickness will ordinarily be a plurality of times the thickness of the finished article, and it will be appreciated that air only, or air first followed by liquid, will be withdrawn through the conduit 26, according to the volume of the former and the length of time that the communication between the interior thereof and the vacuum creating device is kept open.

After a layer of pulp of suflicientthickness to form the finished article has been accumulated upon the former 15 the same is removed from the tank 25, and moved into the upper dotted line position of the parts illustrated in Fig. 9. This inversion or partial inversion of the former permits the liquid within the same to escape through the conduit 26; and, while the parts remain in this elevated position, air, preferably heated and derived from a hood 27, will ordinarily be caused to flow through the layer of pulp upon the former, thus drying the layer of pulp to a greater or less extent depending upon the temperature of the air and the duration of the drying operation. The flow of air is produced by keeping the interior of the former in communication with the pump through the conduit 26 after all the liquid has been drained from the interior of the'former, as will be appreciatedjand the-drying operation may be more or less thorough, or may be omitted altogether, if

deemed necessary or desirable in any partic ular case- The drying, however, will in no case be carried to such anextent as to remove all the liquid from the layer of pulp upon the former, as the same must be in a moist and pliant condition in order that the subsequent steps of my process may be performed thereupon, as will hereinafter appear. 1

After the liquid has been removed from the interior of the former, and the layer of pulp thereupon has been dried to the degree found to be desirable in any particular case, communication between the pump and the interior of the former through the conduit 26 is interrupted, and the parts are moved into the lower dotted line position, Fig. 9, the former with the layer of pulp thereupon entering into a mold 29 separate from the former and corresponding in form with the article to be produced.

The former with a layer of pulp 28 deposited upon its exterior is shown in Fig. 2, and, .because of the fact that the wall of the former is of corrugated, wrinkled, or crimped form to increase the superficial area of the layer of pulp thereupon, as hereinbe fore explained, the former with its layer of pulp will be smaller than the mold 29, so that it may be inserted thereinto, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, without engagement between the peripheral surface of the pulp layer and the surface of the mold, and without abrasion or injury to the said layer.

After the former with the layer of pulp thereupon has been placed within the mold as above explained, the mold being separate from the former and the inner surface thereof corresponding in outline with the finished article, as will be appreciated, air under pressure is supplied to the interior of the former through a conduit 30 connected with the support 16, the flow of air being controlled by a suitable valve, not shown, as will be understood. The effect of this operation is to force the damp, soft and plastic layer of pulp oil from the former, transfer.

said layer to the inner surface of the mold, and leave it resting against said inner surface, as shown in Fig. 5, after which the former is removed from mold.

The wrinkled or corrugated surface of the former in addition to facilitating the entry of the same into the mold without injuring the pulp'layer thereupon, as above pointed out, provides a layer of pulp of such superficial area that when the same is detached from the former and transferred to the mold, it will be of substantially the same area as the area of the inner surface of the mold; fromwhich it follows that the step of transferring the pulp layer to the mold will not necessitate or be accompanied by a stretching of the layer and the possible tearing thereof, the layer of pulp at this time being quite damp and possessing little strength to resist tearing strains as will be appreciated.

After the layer of pulp has been transferred to the mold and the former has been removed therefrom a flexible pressing member shown in Fig. 6 is introduced into the mold, the purpose of which is to compress the layer of pulp within the mold against the inner surface thereof, to thereby secure compactness of the layer and a finished article having a more dense wall. The layer in question may obviously be subjected to the pressing operation once only, or a plurality of times, according to the density required in the wall of the finished article.

The pressing member illustrated com.- presses a hollow elastic, flexible and collapsible bag-like member 31 secured to a suitable support 32, with which a conduit 33 communicates, and through which conduit fluid under pressure may be supplied to the interior of the member 31 to force it into contact with the layer of pulp and the latter areas or portions of the pulp layer, progressively; whereby the formation of folds in the flexible member, and air pockets between the same and the pulp layer, is avoided; which folds or pockets, if present, would result in unequal compression at -diflerent areas of the layer operated upon," and in a lack of uniformity in the wall of the article produced. Also, should the pulp layer be moist to such a degree that the pressing 0peration will squeeze an appreciable quantity of liquid thereupon, the progressive action of the flexible member will force the liquid ahead of the area of contact between the two and out of the mold, thus avoiding the trapping of air and liquidbetween the flexible Y member and pulp layer and the probable'injury of the latter. The support 32 for the pressing member 31 is supported through the conduit 33 from a suitable cross-head 34 in the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 9; which cross-head slides in vertically arranged guides 35, and is counterbalanced by a weight 36, so that the pressure applying member may be conveniently moved into and out of the mold,

37 being commonly provided for holding the said member within the mold while pres sure is being applied to the pulp layer, as

will be appreciated. 4

Should it be deemed necessary or desirable, the mold may be provided with -a heatsuitable locking means such as the latchesm'g;

ing coil 38, 'see Fig. 9, to dry the article be- I ing formed; and, after the pressing (and drying, if necessary) operations have been erformed, the finished article is removed rom the mold; the finished article being shown in section in Fig. 7, and in plan in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

Fig. 13 illustrates conventionally, a modification of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 9

whereby a plurality of articles may be produced simultaneously. In this formthree foraminated formers are carried by arms 39 secured to a single oscillating shaft 40 carried by slides 41 movable in vertically extending guides 42, as in Fig. 9; the conduit 43 leading to the vacuum creating means has branches extending to and communicating 1 with the interiors of the several formers, as

shown; and the conduit 44 through which 130' air under pressure is supplied to the. interiors of said formers is provided with branches extending to each. This figure shows the three formers in place within a three part mold 45 reparatory to transferring the three pulp ayers from the formers to the separate molds, as will be understood:

In conclusion it may be here stated that while the paper pulp is perhaps, most frequently held in suspension in water, it may be held in suspension in any suitable liquid;

and-is in fact, held in suspension in liquid other than water, in making various articles from wood pulp in accordance with my process.

Having thus described and explained my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The process of producing an article from paper pulp which consists in depositing a layer'of pulp similar in form to the article to be produced upon a, suitable foraminous former; transferring said layer to a suitable mold separate from said former and similar in form to the article to be produced and subjecting said layer to the action of a pressure applying member separate from said former and mold and while it re-- of said layer progressively, and while it remains in contact with said mold.

3. The process of producing an article from paper pulp which consists in depositing a layer of pulp from a liquid in which the pulp is held in suspension upon a suitable oraminous former; transferring said layer to a suitable mold separate from said.

former; and subjecting said layer to the action of a pressure applying member separate from said former and located within and acting progressively upon different portions of said layer while said layer remains within said mold.

4s. The process of producing an article from paper pulp which consists in depositing a layer of pulp from a liquid in which the pulp is held in suspension upon asuitable foraminous former; transferring said layer to a suitable mold separate from said former; and subjecting said layer to the action of a pressure applying member separate from said former and while it remains within said mold.

5. The process of producing a hollow article from paper pulp which consists in depositing a layer of pulp from a liquid in which the pulp is held in suspension upon messes the exterior surface of a hollow foraminous former; withdrawin such liquid as may be within said former from the interior thereof; transferring said layer to a suitable hollow mold separate from said former; and applying pressure to the inner surface of said layer by means of a pressure applying member separate and independent of said former to thereby force the same against the interior of said mold.

6. The process of producing a hollow article from paper pulp which consists indepositin a layer of pulp from a liquid in which t e'pulp is held in suspension upon the exterior surface of a hollow foraminous former; withdrawing such liquid as may be within said former from the interior thereof; drying said layer while it remains upon said former; transferring said layer to a suitable hollow moldseparate from said for mer; and applying pressure to difi'erent portions of the inner surface of said layer in succession by means pf a pressure applying member separate and independent of said former to thereby progressively force said layer against the interior of said mold.

7. The process of producing a hollow article from paper pulp which consists in depositing a layer of pulp upon the exterior surface of a hollow foraminous former; withdrawing such liquid as may be within said former from the interior thereof; inducing a flow of air through the wall of said layer to dry the same while it remains upon said former; transferring said layer to a suitable hollow mold separate from said former; and applying pressure to different portions of the inner surface of said layer in succession, to thereby progressively force said layer against the interior of said mold.

8. The process of producing a hollow article from paper pulp which consists in submerging a foraminous former in pulp suspended in a liquid; inducing a flow of liquid into said former whereby a layer of pulp is formed upon the exterior thereof; removing said former from the pulp and liquid; withdrawing such liquid as may remain within said former from the interior thereof; transferring the layer of pulp from said former to a suitable mold; and applying pressure to said layer while it remains in contact with said mold by means of a pressure applying member separate from and independent of said former.

9. The process of producing a hollow article from paper pulp which consists in submerging a hollow foraminous former in pulp suspended in a liquid; inducing a flow of liquid into said former whereby a layer of pulp is formed upon the exterior thereof; removing said former from the pulp and liquid; withdrawing such liquid as may remain within said former from the interior thereof; placing said former with the layer layer therefrom and transfer it to the interior of said mold; and applying pressure independent of atmospheric pressure to said layer while it remains within said mold. 10. The process of producing a hollow' article from paper pulp which consists in submerging a hollow foraminous former in pulp suspended in a liquid; inducing a flow of liquid into said former whereby a layer of pulp is formed upon the efiterior thereof; removing said former from the pulp and liquid; withdrawing such liquid as may remain within said former from the interior thereof; placing said former with the layer of pulp thereupon within a. suitable mold"; disengaging said layer from said former and transferring it to the interior of said mold; and applying pressure progressively to separate portions of said layer while it remains within said mold.

11. The process of producing a hollow article from paper pulp which consists in submerging a hollow foraminous former in pulp suspended in liquid; inducing a flow.

of liquid into said former whereby a layer of pulp is formed upon the exterior thereof; removing said former from the pulp and liquid; withdrawing such liquid as may remain within said former from the interior thereof; drying the layer of pulp upon said former; placing said former with the layer of pulp thereupon within a suitable mold; disengaging said layer from'said former and transferring it to the interior of said mold; and applying pressure independent of atmospheric pressure to said layer while it remains within said mold.

12. The process of producing a hollow article from paper pulp which consists in 'submerging a hollow foraminous former in pulp suspended in liquid; inducing a flow of liquid into said former whereby a layer of pulp is formed upon the exterior thereof; removing said former from the pulp and liquid; withdrawing such liquid as may remain within said former from the interior thereof; inducing a flow of air through the layer of pulp upon said former; placing said former with the layer of pulp thereupon within a suitable mold; disengaging said layer from "said former and transferring it to the interior of said mold; and apply ng pressure independent .of atmosphenc pressure to said layer while it remains within said mold.

removing'said former from the pulp and liquid; withdrawing such liquid as may remain within said former from the interior thereof; inducing a flow of air through the layer of pulp upon said former; placmg said former with the layer of pulp thereupon within a suitable mold; applying air under pressure to the interior of said former to thereby disengage said layer-therefrom and transfer it to the interior of said mold; and applying pressure progressively to separate portions of said layer while it remains within said mold.

14. In a device for producin a hollow article from paper pulp, a oraminous former the periphery of which is corrugated or wrinkled to increase its superficial area; means for withdrawing liquid from the interior of said former; means for supplying air under pressure to the interior'of said former; and a mold separate from and larger than said former, and into which the same may be introduced without contact between a layer of pulp upon the exterior of said former and the wall of the mold.

15. Ina device for producing a hollow article from paper pulp, a foraminous former the periphery of which is corrugated or wrinkled to increase its superficial area; means for withdrawing liquid from the interior of said former; means for supplying air under pressure to the interior of said former; a mold separate from and larger than said former, and into which the same with a layer of pulp thereupon may enter; and means for applying pressure to a layer of pulp transferred from saidformer to said mold while said layer remains within said mold.

plying pressure to separate portions-of a layer of pulp transferred from said former to said mold, progressively,- and while said layer remains within said mold.

17. In a device for producing a hollow article from paper pulp, a foraminous former the periphery of which is corrugated or wrinkled to increase itssuperficial area;

means for withdrawing liquid from the interior of said former; means for supplying air under pressure to the interior of said former; a mold separate from and larger than said former; an expansible pressure applying member adapted to enter into said mold; and means for forcing said pressure applying member against a layer of pulp lying in contact with the interior of said mol 1 e 18. In a device for producing a hollow article from paper pulp, a foraminous former the periphery of which is corrugated or wrinkled to increase its superficial area; means for withdrawing liquid from the interior of said former; means for applying air under pressure to the interior of sald former; a mold separate from and larger than said former; a hollow flexible pressure applying member adaptedtoenter nto said mold; and means for supplyingfiuld under pressure to the interior of said pressure applying member, to thereby force the wall thereof against a layer of pulp lying in contact with the interior of said mold.

19. In a device for producing a hollow article from paper pulp, a mold corresponding in form with the article to be produced; means separate from said mold for forming a hollow layer of pulp corresponding in form with the interior of said mold, and for.

transferring said layer to said mold and means for applying pressure to the inner surface of a layer of pulp lying in contact with the interior of said mold and while said layer remains within said mold.

20. In a device for producing a hollow article from paper pulp, a mold corresponding in form with the article to be produced; means separate from said mold for forming a hollow layer of pulp' corresponding in form with the interior of said mold, and for transferring said layer to said mold; and means for progressively compressing a layer of pulp lying incontact with the interior of said mold andwhile said layer remains with in said mold.

21. In a device for producing a hollow article from paper pulp, a mold corresponding in form with the article to be produced; means separate from said mold for forming a hollow layer of pulp corresponding in form with the interior of said mold, and for transferring said layer tosaid mold; and means for progressively forcing a layer of pulp located within said mold against the inner surface thereof.

22. In a device for producing a hollow article from paper pulp, a mold corresponding in form with the article to be produced; means separate from said mold for forming a hollow layer of pulp corresponding in form with the interior of said mold, and for transferring said layer to said mold; an expansible pressure applying member adapted to enter into said mold; and means whereby said pressure applying member is progresmeanest sively forced against a layer of pulp lying in contact with the interior of said mold.

23. In a device for producing. a hollow article from paper'pulp, a mold corresponding in form with the article to be produced; means separate from said mold for forming a hollow layer of pulp corresponding in form with the interior of said mold, and for transferring said layer to said mold; a hollow flexible pressure applying member adapted to enter into said mold and the wall of which member varies in thickness at different points; and means for supplying fluid under pressure to the interior of said pres sure applying member.

24. In a device for producing a hollow article from paper pulp, a foraminous former the periphery of which is corrugated or wrinkled to increase its superficial area: means for depositing a layer of pulp upon a periphery of said former; a mold separate from and larger than said former, and into which the same may be introduced without contact between the layer of pulp upon the exterior thereof and the wall of the mold; and means for transferring said layer from said former to the interior of said mold.

25 In a device for producing hollow articles frompaper pulp, a plurality of foraminous formers, the peripheries .of which are corrugated or wrinkled to increase their superficial areas, means for depositing layers of pulp upon the peripheries of said formers, a plurality of molds separated fronr and larger than said formers and into which the same may be introduced without contact between the layers of pulp upon the exteriors thereof and the walls of the molds and means for transferring said layers'from said formers to the interiors of said molds.

26. In a device for producing hollow articles from paper pulp, a plurality of molds corresponding in form with the articles to be produced, means separate from said molds for forming hollow layers of pulp corresponding in form with the interiors of said molds and for transferring said layers to said molds and means for applying pressure to the inner surfaces of the layers of pulp lying in contact with the interiors of the molds and while said layers remain within said molds.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification this 7th day of March, 1917.

ALFRED V. SIMS. 

